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Red alert on Tobacco Road. N.C. State hasn’t won an ACC regular-season title since the 1988-89 season and hasn’t won the ACC Tournament since 1987. This year, the Raleigh campus, the oft-dark corner of the famed basketball Triangle, sits smack-dab at the convergence of talent and opportunity. The Wolfpack—and their rabid fans—know it.

No miracles at Virginia Tech. So new Hokies coach James Johnson won’t be faulted if his team fails to reach the NCAA Tournament. With a couple of post-Seth Greenberg defections muddying his task—but outstanding point guard Erick Green still in the fold—Johnson has the freedom to build his program without extra burdens.

FSU will be in the thick of the race. The Seminoles return only one full-time starter—although the one starter is Michael Snaer, who is among the ACC’s best players—but that’s not the whole story. Shooter Ian Miller (zero starts last season) averaged 10.3 points per game, and wing Okaro White (12 starts) averaged 7.7. They’re both back, along with big man Terrance Shannon, who missed all but seven games last season with a dislocated shoulder.

It won’t be as bad for Wake Forest. It has been easy to overlook the Demon Deacons, but they have the top two returning scorers in the league: C.J. Harris (16.7 points per game) and Travis McKie (16.1). The journey out of last place—with four ACC wins last season, Wake finished in a four-way tie at the bottom of the league—starts with a couple of accomplished scorers.

There’s an emerging force at Boston College. Last year, Ryan Anderson became the 11th freshman in ACC history to lead his team in both scoring (11.7 points per game) and rebounding (7.4). Now, his goal is to lead the still-young Eagles out of the ACC cellar.

Miami has a sleeper candidate for player of the year. Take a long look at redshirt senior Kenny Kadji, an athletic 6-11 monster who took a couple of years to figure out how to rein in his immense skill set. In ACC play last year, Kadji averaged 14.8 points, blocked 25 shots and made 20 3-pointers.

Maryland is on the rise. And that’s despite the loss of Terrell Stoglin, who led the ACC with 21.6 points per game in 2011-12. Alex Len, a skilled 7-1 center, is primed for a breakthrough season, and guards Pe’Shon Howard and Nick Faust are other “on the rise” candidates for second-year coach Mark Turgeon.

Can Virginia return to the NCAAs? Last season, the Cavs made the tourney for the first time since 2007, but now they’ll be trying to do it without Mike Scott. Few players in the country were as important to their team as Scott was to the Cavs. But, in his fourth year, coach Tony Bennett has a stable full of players he has recruited for his style of basketball.

Duke needs more from its newbies. Aside from Austin Rivers, who left for the NBA, last year’s crop of Duke freshmen—Quinn Cook, Michael Gbinije, Marshall Plumlee and Alex Murphy—contributed few meaningful minutes. A big issue was that they weren’t deemed physically ready (Plumlee and Murphy redshirted) by coach Mike Krzyzewski. That’s a lesson those players—except Gbinije, who transferred to Syracuse—have made sure to pass on to this year’s group of newcomers.

UNC has embarrassment of riches at shooting guard. Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland are back from injuries. Reggie Bullock is primed to break out, and P.J. Hairston spent the summer working to prove he’s a better shooter than his freshman numbers indicated.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina. McAdoo’s situation is similar to what Thomas Robinson faced at Kansas—he’s an extremely talented player whose court time was limited as a freshman by star veterans. Finally given his opportunity last year, Robinson became a first-team All-American. McAdoo has the same type of ability and opportunity. McAdoo was up and down when he did play last season, but there’s no denying his potential. Other ACC players are more proven, but none has a higher ceiling.

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

PG - Lorenzo Brown, Jr., N.C. State. He developed into a leader for the Wolfpack last year; he doesn’t get enough attention as the engine that drives N.C. State.

SG - Michael Snaer, Sr., Florida State. Mr. Big Shot was named the ACC Tournament MVP after lifting the Seminoles to their first ACC tourney title.

SF - C.J. Leslie, Jr., N.C. State. A more mature but still fun-loving Leslie can be a nightmare for opposing players and coaches.

PF - James Michael McAdoo, Soph., North Carolina.

C - Reggie Johnson, Sr., Miami. Few players in the country have Johnson’s combination of brute strength and soft hands.

BEST OF THE ACC

Shooter: Scott Wood, N.C. State

Passer: Lorenzo Brown, N.C. State

Penetrator: Durand Scott, Miami

Shot-blocker: Mason Plumlee, Duke

Leader: Michael Snaer, Florida State

Defender: Jontel Evans, Virginia

NBA prospect: James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina

Freshman: Rodney Purvis, N.C. State

Rebounder: Richard Howell, N.C. State

Transfer: Stacey Poole Jr., Georgia Tech (from Kentucky)

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke

Recruiter: Roy Williams, North Carolina

Home-court advantage: Donald L. Tucker Center, Florida State

FIVE BIGGEST GAMES

Jan. 26—North Carolina at N.C. State. Is N.C. State ready to compete with the ACC elite? After hosting Duke on Jan. 12, the Wolfpack get another big test with the visiting Tar Heels.

Jan. 27—Florida State at Miami. When was the last time a basketball game between these schools was relevant to the ACC race? This one will be.

Feb. 13—North Carolina at Duke. The rivalry always is special, but there’s just something about the games that are played at Cameron Indoor Stadium that takes it up a notch.

Feb. 16—Duke at Maryland. If Maryland is on the NCAA Tournament bubble, this could be an opportunity to snag a resume-padding victory.

March 9—N.C. State at Florida State. Tallahassee has become a brutal place for ACC teams to get a win.